Mindfulness - A Different Take on Meditation
Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting cross legged on a pillow, chanting mantras and burning incense. Even though that’s often the image that comes to mind.
Mindfulness is a form of meditation, and it involves slowing down, focusing only on the present moment, and most importantly - being gentle with yourself.
Mindfulness practice helps women to stay grounded. It encourages the observation of thoughts and feelings, often with an air of curiosity, while using the five senses to connect to the world.
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program. Here’s the link, if you’d like to learn more:
When in the throes of overwhelming menopausal symptoms, however, women can feel like they are going to be trapped in these horrible physical and emotional states FOREVER! These kinds of thoughts are truly scary and can be incapacitating; they can make the thought of getting into nature feel out of reach.
When I was at my lowest points in late perimenopause, I had to drag myself out of the house and into the mountains, but it always helped me: I felt soothed by the chirping of the birds, the smell of the soil underneath my feet, and the immensity of the towering trees all around me.
From my perspective, exercising in nature is the absolute best way to practice mindfulness! It decreases cortisol levels, increases serotonin, and clears your mind. I always get the most creative ideas when I’m hiking in the mountains: it happens every single time.
If you’re not an avid exerciser, that’s OK, too. “Forest Bathing” is a concept that was created in Japan. It involves immersing yourself in nature, surrounded by trees. You slow down, observe your surroundings with your five senses, and enjoy the beauty around you.
We are intricately connected to the natural world. It’s how we evolved. When we are mindful and truly conscious of our experience and appreciative of each moment through a mindfulness practice, we can feel true healing taking place.
